Hameed cleared after scan on hand injury

Haseeb Hameed, the Lancashire and England opener, has been cleared of serious damage to his hand* after suffering an injury on the opening day against Cambridge MCCU at Fenners.

Hameed was sent for a scan on an injured hand after being forced to retire hurt 23 balls into his season on Sunday. However, Lancashire said in a statement the following day that a specialist had ruled out any damage to the bone.

Hameed had made 7 when he left the field and a Lancashire spokesman confirmed he had been taken to hospital for further assessment. He later returned to the ground and was set to be reassessed on Monday morning.

Late last year, Hameed was ruled out of the final two Tests against India after breaking the little finger on his left hand which required surgery.

He returned to action on the England Lions tour of Sri Lanka in February - although made just 4, 0, 15 and 14 in the two four-day games - before withdrawing from the MCC side to play the Champion County match against Middlesex in Abu Dhabi to undergo sinus surgery to aid a breathing problem.

Hameed made a highly promising start to his England career in India, scoring 82 on debut in Rajkot which was followed by a gusty, unbeaten 59 in Mohali where he batted down the order with his badly broken finger.

England do not play Test cricket again until facing South Africa in July but Hameed is expected to feature at the top of the order.